STEM OPT Aerospace Jobs
Aerospace engineering and related STEM roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization after graduation. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree must align with an approved CIP code in a qualifying STEM field such as aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We are looking for an Aerospace Quality Engineer to assist with quality assurance initiatives in our manufacturing facility. You will collaborate across engineering, production, and inspection departments, as well as with our clients, to address quality challenges and guarantee that all deliverables align with customer specifications.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as the primary point of contact for clients regarding quality feedback, product returns, and nonconformance issues.
- Manage the processing and documentation of nonconforming materials and MRB components.
- Drive root cause analysis and implement effective corrective measures to improve overall quality outcomes.
- Prepare and finalize First Article Inspection (FAI) documentation.
- Contribute to the execution of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, and control plan strategies.
- Analyze engineering blueprints, technical specifications, and client requirements.
- Utilize GD&T principles to interpret part specifications and inspection criteria.
- Collaborate with production and engineering groups to help resolve quality-related obstacles.
- Assist with both internal and external quality audit processes.
- Oversee the consistency of product quality and manufacturing processes.
- Track and communicate key quality performance metrics.
- Identify opportunities to refine manufacturing workflows and prevent recurring quality defects.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Technology, Mathematics, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in Quality Engineering within the aerospace manufacturing sector.
- Proficiency in AS9100D and/or AS13100 quality standards.
- Background in managing MRB and nonconforming material workflows.
- Proven experience executing First Article Inspections.
- Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, 8D methodologies, and root cause corrective action.
- Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings and blueprints.
- Strong understanding of GD&T standards.
- Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities to ensure team success.
- Direct experience engaging with customers to resolve quality concerns.
- Professional certifications in Quality or Six Sigma are considered a benefit.
INTRODUCTION
We are looking for an Aerospace Quality Engineer to assist with quality assurance initiatives in our manufacturing facility. You will collaborate across engineering, production, and inspection departments, as well as with our clients, to address quality challenges and guarantee that all deliverables align with customer specifications.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as the primary point of contact for clients regarding quality feedback, product returns, and nonconformance issues.
- Manage the processing and documentation of nonconforming materials and MRB components.
- Drive root cause analysis and implement effective corrective measures to improve overall quality outcomes.
- Prepare and finalize First Article Inspection (FAI) documentation.
- Contribute to the execution of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, and control plan strategies.
- Analyze engineering blueprints, technical specifications, and client requirements.
- Utilize GD&T principles to interpret part specifications and inspection criteria.
- Collaborate with production and engineering groups to help resolve quality-related obstacles.
- Assist with both internal and external quality audit processes.
- Oversee the consistency of product quality and manufacturing processes.
- Track and communicate key quality performance metrics.
- Identify opportunities to refine manufacturing workflows and prevent recurring quality defects.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Technology, Mathematics, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in Quality Engineering within the aerospace manufacturing sector.
- Proficiency in AS9100D and/or AS13100 quality standards.
- Background in managing MRB and nonconforming material workflows.
- Proven experience executing First Article Inspections.
- Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, 8D methodologies, and root cause corrective action.
- Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings and blueprints.
- Strong understanding of GD&T standards.
- Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities to ensure team success.
- Direct experience engaging with customers to resolve quality concerns.
- Professional certifications in Quality or Six Sigma are considered a benefit.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Aerospace
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Aerospace engineering, aeronautical engineering, and astronautical engineering all appear on the list, but dual-major or interdisciplinary degrees sometimes require DSO confirmation before your extension is filed.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Any employer hiring you on STEM OPT must be actively enrolled in E-Verify, not just registered. Ask the recruiter for the company's E-Verify Client ID or search the E-Verify employer search tool directly to confirm current enrollment status before signing.
Use O*NET to match your degree to aerospace job codes
Aerospace roles span multiple Standard Occupational Classification codes. Pull the O*NET occupation profile for your target title to confirm the degree field requirement aligns with your CIP code, which strengthens your I-983 training plan when your DSO files the extension.
Build your I-983 training plan around measurable engineering goals
Aerospace employers often work on long-cycle projects like propulsion systems or avionics platforms. Structure your I-983 learning objectives around specific technical competencies tied to those projects so the connection between your STEM degree and your job duties is explicit and defensible.
Target contractors through DOL LCA disclosure data on Migrate Mate
Defense and aerospace contractors file Labor Condition Applications for STEM roles every year. Search Migrate Mate to surface which aerospace employers have active LCA filings, so you're applying to companies that have already demonstrated willingness to hire and sponsor international STEM workers.
Start your extension paperwork 90 days before OPT expires
USCIS requires the STEM OPT extension application to be filed before your initial OPT EAD expires. File at least 90 days out to preserve cap-gap protection if an H-1B visa petition is filed on your behalf before October 1 of the following fiscal year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my aerospace engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Aerospace engineering, aeronautical engineering, and astronautical engineering degrees all appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and qualify for the 24-month extension. If your degree has a different title, your DSO can confirm whether its CIP code is on the approved list. Related fields like mechanical engineering and electrical engineering also qualify when the role involves aerospace applications.
What E-Verify requirement applies to aerospace employers hiring STEM OPT students?
Any employer hiring you under the STEM OPT extension must be enrolled in E-Verify at the location where you'll be working. Enrollment must be current and active, not lapsed. You can confirm this by requesting the employer's E-Verify Client ID directly or by using the E-Verify employer search tool before you accept an offer.
How does the I-983 training plan work for aerospace roles?
Your employer and DSO complete Form I-983 together, documenting how your aerospace job duties connect to your STEM degree. For aerospace roles, this typically involves specifying engineering competencies like systems design, propulsion analysis, or avionics integration. The employer must also conduct a formal performance evaluation at the midpoint and end of your STEM OPT period.
How do I find aerospace employers who are already set up to hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lets you filter aerospace job listings by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active DOL Labor Condition Application filings, so you're not spending time on companies that haven't sponsored international STEM workers before. Focusing on employers with existing LCA history significantly shortens the path from application to offer.
What happens to my work authorization if my aerospace employer files an H-1B petition on my behalf?
If your employer files a timely H-1B petition before April 1 of your final STEM OPT year and it's selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. USCIS recognizes this bridge period, so you don't need to stop working while the H-1B petition is pending adjudication.